Michigan state veterinarian Nora Wineland recently confirmed another bovine tuberculosis-positive herd in Alcona County.

“Bovine TB was recently confirmed in a medium-sized beef herd in Alcona County, which is in Michigan’s Modified Accredited Zone," Wineland said. "The animals were confirmed positive for bovine TB by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories on Jan. 13. As in all new findings of infected cattle herds, additional testing will be done to identify the specific bacterial strain, and trace testing will begin to identify any potential additional cases associated with the affected herd."

The Alcona County herd is Michigan’s 77th cattle herd to be identified with bovine TB, and it is the second TB-positive herd located within the MAZ in the past 12 months.

Under the current memorandum of understanding between the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and USDA, the state is limited to a maximum of three TB-positive herds within the MAZ over a 12-month period, without negative effects to the state’s TB status.

Bovine TB is a bacterial disease that can affect all mammals, including humans. It is present in the free-ranging white-tailed deer population in a specific area of northeastern lower Michigan and can be transmitted from the deer into cattle herds.

Michigan has been working to eradicate bovine TB in cattle since 1998 when a cattle herd tested positive in Alpena County.

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